A recent study cites Louisiana’s ranking when it comes to low birth weight of babies, low number of OB-GYNS and high number of preterm births as a reason the state is the second worst in the nation to have a baby. On the report by Wallethub, State Department of Health Deputy Secretary Michelle Alletto says one of the barriers moms have access and coverage..:
Cut 6 (10) “healthier state”
The study ranks Louisiana 49th in number of Pediatricians and Family Doctors and 47th for infant- mortality rate.

A former youth pastor at the First Baptist Church in New Orleans will spending 10 years in state prison after pleading guilty to charges related to the molestation of a young female member of church. 35-year-old Jonathan Bailey pleaded guilty to five counts of molestation of a juvenile, six counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and a count of obstruction of justice.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne announces TOPS will only be 93% funded in the fall, and less than half in the spring. He hopes when lawmakers return to Baton Rouge next year they’ll be able to allocate more money towards the popular scholarship program, so that students aren’t hit with the bill…:
CUT 9 (08) “maintain it”

Levees.org is planning on turning a New Orleans home that was flooded during Hurricane Katrina, into a memorial. Website founder Sandy Rosenthal says it’ll cost about $50-thousand dollars to revamp and preserve the house from further decay but she expects a lot of donors to help with the recreation….:
cut 11 (09) “out there”
Rosenthal hopes to open the memorial by December 1st, the close of hurricane season.